Book Review: Laird Cregar – A Hollywood Tragedy

A strong acting presence who made a significant impact and later died as a young man of 31, Laird Cregar left an impact on such films as “This Gun for Hire,” “The Lodger” and was carving something of a niche in creepy roles that had escalated to starring parts. “Hangover Square” is a good culmination, as it may be his best work. It was released two months after his death, so we never got to know how his career might have progressed from this point.

Film historian Gregory William Mank’s new biography, from McFarland, approaches Cregar’s life and career as a Hollywood tragedy, as per the book’s subtitle. He explores the actor’s talent, his quirks, his unhappiness with his six-foot-three, three hundred pound frame, and his sad desire to achieve some level of beauty through extreme dieting, which led to his early death.

The reviewer must add something of a personal nature to this book review. I first became aware of Laird Cregar in 1973 when I read a story about him in a periodical I subscribed to called Film Fan Monthly. It was a fascinating, well-written piece that made me want to explore the actor’s work (which I eventually did). I read in this book’s opening Author’s Note that Mr. Mank wrote the article that introduced me to Laird Cregar. I have naturally read and enjoyed much of Mr. Mank’s books over the years, so this eventual biography on the subject that introduced me to the author, and to the actor, is an especially welcome addition to my library.

But, aside from the personal reaction, I can also objectively state that this book expands perfectly on Mank’s excellent Film Fan Monthly article from 45 years earlier. The book really gives a strong sense of the actor’s significance, and an understanding of the man’s short, tortured life.

Laird Cregar was actually homeless, living out of his car, while appearing in his first couple of films, eventually making an impact on stage as Oscar Wilde. This led to a more successful venture in Hollywood movies, the Fox studio eventually picking up his option and giving him a contract. Performance in “Charley’s Aunt” with Jack Benny, “Blood and Sand” with Tyrone Power, and “I Wake Up Screaming” with Betty Grable, got Cregar notice from critics, moviegoers, and filmmakers.

Mank’s book journeys through Cregar’s subsequent career, including many triumphs along the way. But the book also offers a sad story about a man who was sexually conflicted, easily hurt, and personally unfulfilled. Surrounded by handsome men and beautiful women in the world of Hollywood cinema, Cregar referred to himself as “an oddity.”

Of course the full details can be found in Mank’s biography, giving attention to detail as it uncovers the layers of Laird Cregar’s short-but-complex life. An added attraction is the fact that Mank has been interviewing classic celebrities for decades, and comments made by long gone performers who had worked in movies with Cregar offer another dimension to his story.

“Laird Cregar – A Hollywood Tragedy” is one of the finest cinema biographies that this reviewer has had the pleasure of encountering. It is most highly recommended for libraries, research centers, and every fan of Hollywood’s golden age.

The book is available here.